Witness Video In St. Louis Shooting Contradicts Official Statement [UPDATE]

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released cell phone footage Wednesday of the police shooting of Kajieme Powell, the 25-year-old black man killed on Tuesday in St. Louis.

According to St. Louis Public Radio, the police released the video Wednesday evening as part of an effort to be more transparent when it comes to violent incidents involving law enforcement. In addition to the cell phone footage, the department also released security camera footage of the alleged robbery, as well as the two 911 calls made to police.

Police were first called to the scene – less than four miles away from the spot Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, was killed – when a local store owner reported the 25-year-old Powell stole drinks and donuts from his shop, according to a recording of the 911 call. Another woman called to report Powell was acting erratically and had a knife in his pocket.

Two officers in a police SUV responded to the calls, the cell phone video shows. When the officers got out of their vehicle, Powell walked in their direction, yelling and telling them to shoot him already.